For immediate release July 8, 2008
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION ENCOURAGES TENNESSEANS TO LEARN BEFORE YOU BURN
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation encourages Tennesseans to “learn before you burn” when it comes to burning household garbage and other items.
There are items that are illegal to burn at any time during the year to protect people and the air from pollution.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to burn:
- Tires and rubber products
- Vinyl siding and shingles
- Asphalt shingles and other asphalt roofing materials and demolition debris
- Building material, construction debris and mobile homes
- Plywood, oriented strand board and treated wood, including railroad ties
- Asbestos-containing materials
- Aerosol cans and food cans
- Copper wire and electrical wires
- Plastics and other synthetic materials
- Paper products, cardboard and newspaper
- Household trash
- Leaves, branches and trees not grown on site
Recycling and composting are alternatives to open burning recommended by the Department of Environment and Conservation. Household garbage that cannot be recycled should be disposed in a permitted landfill. Local convenience centers and private garbage haulers are options for property owners to appropriately dispose of household trash.
State law allows for a maximum civil penalty of up to $25,000 per day for each day of violation of the Air Quality Act. For more information on what may and may not be burned under Tennessee regulations, as well as information on appropriate disposal options for particular items, please refer to the open burning brochure online at www.tn.gov/environment/apc/pdf/OpenBurningBrochure.pdf.
During official fire season, Oct. 15 - May 15, state law requires citizens to get a permit from the Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry before conducting any open burning of wood debris. Otherwise, citizens are encouraged to check with their city government for any local burning restrictions that might apply.
For more information on air quality in Tennessee, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/apc and click on the Clean Air Tennessee link.
###
For more information contact: Tisha Calabrese-Benton |
Return
to  |
